They Crucified Him! The Story of Jesus' Crucifixion and Its Meaning

2. 32Now as they came out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name. Him they compelled to bear His cross. 33 And when they had come to a place called Golgotha, that is to say, Place of a Skull, 34they gave Him sour wine mingled with gall to drink. But when He had tasted it, He would not drink.

3. 35Then they crucified Him, and divided His garments, casting lots, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet: “They divided My garments among them, And for My clothing they cast lots.” (Matthew 27)

4. They Crucified Him! The story of Jesus’ crucifixion should fill us with gratitude when we understand why!

5. Why? • The Jews hated Him – John 7:1-7

6. 1After these things Jesus walked in Galilee; for He did not want to walk in Judea, because the Jews sought to kill Him. 2 Now the Jews’ Feast of Tabernacles was at hand.  3His brothers therefore said to Him, “Depart from here and go into Judea, that Your disciples also may see the works that You are doing.

7. 4 For no one does anything in secret while he himself seeks to be known openly. If You do these things, show Yourself to the world.” 5For even His brothers did not believe in Him.

8. 6Then Jesus said to them, “My time has not yet come, but your time is always ready. 7The world cannot hate you, but it hates Me because I testify of it that its works are evil. (John 7)

9. Why? • The Jews hated Him – John 7:1-7 • And His followers – John 15:18-19

10. 18 “If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you.  19If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. (John 15)

11. Why? • The Jews hated Him – John 7:1-7 • And envied Him – Matthew 27:15-18

12. 15Now at the feast the governor was accustomed to releasing to the multitude one prisoner whom they wished. 16 And at that time they had a notorious prisoner called Barabbas.

13. 17Therefore, when they had gathered together, Pilate said to them, “Whom do you want me to release to you? Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?” 18For he knew that they had handed Him over because of envy. (Matthew 27)

14. Why? • The Jews hated Him – John 7:1-7 • And envy – Matthew 27:15-18 • Jesus’ reasons – • For our sins – I Corinthians 15:3-4

15. 3For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures,  (I Corinthians 15)

16. Why? • The Jews hated Him – John 7:1-7 • And envy – Matthew 27:15-18 • Jesus’ reasons – • For our sins – I Corinthians 15:3-4 • Eternal life – John 3:14-15; Mark 8:27-31

17. 14And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.  (John 3)

19. 27Now Jesus and His disciples went out to the towns of Caesarea Philippi; and on the road He asked His disciples, saying to them, “Who do men say that I am?” 28So they answered, “John the Baptist; but some say, Elijah; and others, one of the prophets.”

20. 29He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered and said to Him, “You are the Christ.” 30 Then He strictly warned them that they should tell no one about Him.

21. 31And He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again.  (Mark 8)

22. Why? • The Jews hated Him – John 7:1-7 • And envy – Matthew 27:15-18 • Jesus’ reasons – • For our sins – I Corinthians 15:3-4 • Eternal life for believers – John 3:14-15 • Joy set before Him – Hebrews 12:1-2

23. 1Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,

24. 2looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. (Hebrews 12)

25. Why? • The Jews hated Him • And envied Him • Jesus’ reasons – • For our sins • Eternal life for believers • Joy set before Him

26. Trial & Crucifixion • Agony in Gethsemane – Luke 22:41-44

27. 41And He was withdrawn from them about a stone’s throw, and He knelt down and prayed, 42saying, “Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done.”43 Then an angel appeared to Him from heaven, strengthening Him. 

28. 44 And being in agony, He prayed more earnestly. Then His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground. (Luke 22)

29. Trial & Crucifixion • Agony in Gethsemane – Luke 22:41-44 • The Jews – Mark 14:60-65

30. 60 And the high priest stood up in the midst and asked Jesus, saying, “Do You answer nothing? What is it these men testify against You?” 61 But He kept silent and answered nothing. Again the high priest asked Him, saying to Him, “Are You the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?”

31. 62 Jesus said, “I am. And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven.” 63Then the high priest tore his clothes and said, “What further need do we have of witnesses? 64You have heard the blasphemy! What do you think?” And they all condemned Him to be deserving of death.

32. 65Then some began to spit on Him, and to blindfold Him, and to beat Him, and to say to Him, “Prophesy!” And the officers struck Him with the palms of their hands. (Mark 14)

33. Trial & Crucifixion • Agony in Gethsemane – Luke 22:41-44 • The Jews – Mark 14:60-65 • Before Pilate – Mark 15:14-20

34. 14Then Pilate said to them, “Why, what evil has He done?” But they cried out all the more, “Crucify Him!” 15So Pilate, wanting to gratify the crowd, released Barabbas to them; and he delivered Jesus, after he had scourged Him, to be crucified.

35. 16Then the soldiers led Him away into the hall called Praetorium, and they called together the whole garrison. 17And they clothed Him with purple; and they twisted a crown of thorns, put it on His head,18and began to salute Him, “Hail, King of the Jews!” 

36. 19Then they struck Him on the head with a reed and spat on Him; and bowing the knee, they worshiped Him. 20And when they had mocked Him, they took the purple off Him, put His own clothes on Him, and led Him out to crucify Him.

37. Trial & Crucifixion • Agony in Gethsemane – Luke 22:41-44 • The Jews – Mark 14:60-65 • Before Pilate – Mark 15:14-20 • Nail prints – John 20:19-20, 26-27

38. 19 Then, the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to them, “Peace be with you.” 20 When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord.

39. 26And after eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus came, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, “Peace to you!” 27 Then He said to Thomas, “Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing.” (John 20)

40. Trial & Crucifixion • Agony in Gethsemane • The Jews • Before Pilate • Nail prints in His hands

41. Remembering • Jesus instructions – Luke 22:19-20

42. 19And He took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” 20Likewise He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is shed for you. (Luke 22)

43. Remembering • Jesus instructions – Luke 22:19-20 • Discerning His body – I Cor. 11:26-30

44. 26For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes. 27Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. 28But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup.

45. 29For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body. 30 For this reason many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep. (I Corinthians 11)

46. Remembering • Jesus instructions – Luke 22:19-20 • Discerning His body – I Cor. 11:26-30 • Communion – I Corinthians 10:16-17

47. 16The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?17For we, though many, are one bread and one body; for we all partake of that one bread. (I Corinthians 10)

48. Remembering • Jesus instructions • Discerning His body • Communion of the body & blood

49. I doubt that we can truly grasp the horrors of Jesus’ crucifixion. We can know the facts, but we must understand why He paid such a price. Jesus called upon His disciples to remember, and we must eat and drink discerning His body, showing His death until He comes.

50. Are you a disciple, a follower of Jesus? Have you accepted His gift by believing and obeying Him? Jesus wants your heart, first in obedience to the gospel, then in your life day by day! Will you obey Him today?